Having read that the biggest University in the world is Islamic University, was keen to know what is taught here. And the first book I lay my hand in 2021 happen to be A Guide for The Young starters who want to learn about Muslim culture by Assad Nimer Busoold was my 2nd of 2022
The series consists of four books each for different age group including the principles of Tawhid (Oneness of God), fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) and Akhlaq (Science of ethics - practice of virtues)
It was interesting to know the meanings of Arabic-Islamic common terms like:
A Muslim is a person who believes in Islam, Islam, Islam is a religion which teaches us to worship only Allah (Subhanahu wa-ta'ala), and to obey Him, and to do what He wants us to do.
A person becomes a Muslim when he/she says the Shahadah, the first pillar of Islam, which means, believing in Allah as the only god, and in Muhammed as His messenger. It says:
"Ash/hadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa-Ash/hadu anna Muhammadan raulu I-Lah" : This means, "I believe there is no god but Allah, and I believe that Muhammed is the Messenger of Alah."
The Qur'an is a book, which Allah sent to Prophet Muhammad from the heavens through the Angel Jibril, Gabriel, to teach people Islam and good manners and behavior. It is in Arabic.
There are 114 Surah or chapters in Qur'an. Any of your readings start with "Bi-smi I-Lahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim. This needs to be said even before Wudu.
Adhan : Call for prayer. A Mu'adhdhin announces for every Salah, five times a day, it says:
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar (2)
Ash/hadu an la ilaha illa Allah(2)
Wa-ashhadu anna Muhammadan Raulu I-Lah Allah(2)
Hayya 'ala s-salah (2)
Hayya 'ala l-fala(2)
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
La ilaha illa Allah
Which means:
Allah is the greatest,
I say: There is no god except Allah
I say: Muhammad is the messenger of Allah
Hurry to prayers!
Hurry to success!
Allah is the Greatest,
There is no god except Allah.
At-Tahiyyat :The first Tashahhud which is read twice in each Salah.
Imam: The man who leads the prayers.
Iman: Faith, belief in Allah (Subhanahu wa-ta'ala)
Istinshaq: Cleaning the inside of the nose with water
Jama'ah: A group of people praying together
Jibril: The Angel who brought The Qur'an to Prophet Muhammed (Salla Allahu 'alaihi wa-sallam)
Ka'bah: The holiest mosque in Islam at makkah
Khutbah: The sermon which the Imam gives at Salatu l-Jumu'ah and Salatu l- Eid
Madmadah : Washing and rinsing the mouth with water
Mu'adhdhin: The man who calls for prayer
Qiblah: Direction of prayer toward the ka'bah
Ruku: Bowing down in the prayers, while putting the hands on the knees
Sadaqah : Charity to the poor
Salam or grettings is important when you meet someone and it is done by saying 'As-Salamu 'Alaikum', and when you are greeted you return it better, the response is "Wa-'alaikum s-salam wa-rahmatu I-Lahi wa-barakatuh".
Salah: Prayers - 2nd pillar,
When - Salah:
- In the morning before sunrise (Fajr) - 2 Rak'ah
- At noon(Zuhr) - 4 Rak'ah
- Mid-afternoon ('Asr) - 4 Rak'ah
- Evening, after sunset (Maghrib) - 3 Rak'ah
- Night ('Isha') - 4 Rak'ah
- Facing Qiblah, raise hands to the direction to the level of ears and say "Allahu Akbar"
- Fold hands over chest, putting right hand over the left, read Surat al-Fatihah, say Allahu Akbar
- Bend down putting hands on knees - called Ruku and say 'Subhana Rabiya l-Azim =I praise my Lord the Great' 3 times;
- Raise from Ruku and say "Sami'a Allahu li-man hamidah; Rabbana Wa-laka l-hamd = Allah hears who praises him; our Lord the praise is Yours";
- Say 'Allahu Akbar' and prostrate - Sujud say" Subhana Rabbiya I-A'la =I praise my lord the supreme"Three times
- Say 'Allahu Akbar' and sit up straight. In this position say "Rabbi ghfir li=My Lord forgive me"
- Say 'Allahu Akbar' and make Sujud again saying "Subhana Rabbiya l-A'la" three times
- Then say 'Allahu Akbar' and stand up.
Sura Al-Fatiha (, Sūratu al-Fātihah, "The Opening") is the first chapter of the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an. Its seven-7 verses are a prayer for God's guidance and stress the lordship and mercy of God. This chapter has a special role in daily prayers (Salat), being recited at the start of each unit of prayer, or rak'ah.
The 7 verses of Al-Fatiha and their meaning are:
First:
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Bismi l-laahi r-Rahmani r-Raheem
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Second
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِينَ
Al-hamdu lil-laahi rabbi l-’alameen
[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds -
Third
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Ar-Rahmani r-Raheem
The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
Fourth
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ
Maaliki yawmi d-Deen
Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. (recompense - compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made.)
Fifth
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
Iy-yaaka na’budu wa iy-yaaka nasta’een
It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
Sixth
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Ihdina s-siraata l-mustaqeem
Guide us to the straight path -
Seventh
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ
Siraata l-ladheena an’amta ’alayhim Ghayril maghduubi ’alaihim wala d-daal-leen
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
Fourth Rak'ah is like the second, but read al-Fatihah only and the last Tashahhud or as-Salatu I-Ibrahimiyah after the first Tashahhud
Salatu l-Jumu'ah is The Friday-noon prayer
Shahadah: Declaration of faith - 1st pillar
Surah: Qur'anic chapter
Taslim: Saying (as-Salamu 'alaikum wa-rahmatu Allah), at the end of the Salah.
Wudu: Ablution, cleanliness for Salah. One need to perform Wudu. Wuḍūʾ (Arabic: الوضوء al-wuḍūʼ [wʊˈdˤuːʔ]) is the Islamic procedure for cleansing parts of the body, a type of ritual purification, or ablution. The 4 Fardh (Mandatory) acts of Wudu consists of washing the arms, mouth three times, called Madmadah, nose 3 times called istinshaq, face 3 times, hands and forearms to the elbow starting with right, then wiping the head, ears and finally washing the feet from ankles, starting with right, with water.
The early Muslims fulfilled their duties to their Lord and to their society before asking about their rights, because they put their trust for the reward any human being looks for, Jannah, Paradise, where they would come to live an eternal, peaceful, luxurious life. For this life, willing to sacrifice their short worldly life to benefit the whole of humanity.
Allama l-insana ma lam ya'lam : "He taught the human that which he knew not"
at-Tahrim 66/6 asks believers to protect themselves and families from a fire whereof the fuel is people and stones.
One need to pray regularly, memorise 10 short Suras and the Ayahs and the prophetic hadiths, attend mosque for Salat al-Jama'ah, Salat al-Jumu'ah, Salat al-'Eid and Salat at- Tarwih in Ramadan.
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